October 07, 2024
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Mendota launches Art Commission to spruce up downtown, seeks art ideas

Downtown art to be funded with hotel-motel taxes

By Tom Collins
A life-sized character stands by a wagon on the Mendota Union Depot Mural on the south side of Triple Service, Inc., on located at 801 Monroe Street, on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 in Mendota. The mural is constructed of hand-painted aluminum sheets, mounted on a steel support grid. Artist Ray Paseka and his team at Westclox Studios, Inc. have used archival information found at the Union Depot Railroad Museum to capture the details of the structure. The half-scale painting of the Mendota Union Depot will be an impressive 127 feet long and more than 50 feet high.

Want to paint another mural in downtown Mendota? City officials are all for it. They’re even ready to kick in some money to fund it. Monday, the Mendota City Council voted to establish an Art Commission to spruce up downtown. (Scott Anderson)

Want to paint another mural in downtown Mendota? City officials are all for it. They’re even ready to kick in some money to fund it.

Monday, the Mendota City Council voted unanimously to approve the establishment of an Art Commission. It will provide a forum for people to propose downtown art while giving the city at least some say in the downtown décor.

“We have a lot of interest in beautifying our downtown.”

—  Vicki Johnson, Mendota 4th Ward alderwoman

Vicki Johnson, alderwoman for the 4th Ward, said the commission was a response to Community Heart and Soul surveys that revealed support for more public art.

“We have a lot of interest in beautifying our downtown,” Johnson said. “People want to put up murals but we want to have some input.”

The Art Commission will be funded with hotel-motel taxes starting in fiscal year 2026, beginning May of 2025.

In other matters:

  • trick-or-treat hours will be 3 to 5 p.m. downtown and 5 to 7 p.m. in residential areas Thursday, Oct. 31.
  • the council approved downtown street closures Dec. 6-7 for the Mendota Christmas Event
  • landlord registration to be revisited at a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20.
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